LeFlore 1

Lily LeFlore

Mr. Ring

English 9

12/10/19

Of Mice and Men Essay

The novel ​Of Mice and Men ​by John Steinbeck is about two people George and Lennie

who work on a ranch in Salinas, CA and dream about having a ranch of their own someday.

Steinbeck uses imagery and diction to demonstrate how discrimination leads people to believe

the worst of people even though they may be good people.

The author uses imagery to describe Crooks and the effect discrimination has on him.

Early in the chapter, Crook’s ”body was bent over to the left by his crooked spine...”(67)

Steinbeck showed the theme in this passage because soon we find out that his name was Crooks

because of his disability. Crooks was kicked by a horse in the back because he was a black stable

worker. Crooks then wasn’t taken to the doctor because of his color, because he wasn’t taken to a

doctor his back was permanently crooked. This reflects the theme of the passage because using

imagery helps tell the reader about how discrimination has treated him and how people think

very low of him becaue of his skin color. For instance, “bent over to the left by his crooked

spine” the use of imagery helps describe his appearance for the reader. Steinbeck’s uses the

element of Imagery to describe Curly’s wife. On page 31 Curley's wife came in and she “... had

full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up..” and “She wore a cotton house dress

and red mules...” Steinbeck reveals the theme in this quote because in the story Curley's wife is

very lonely, from dreaming to be a star, then married to Curley after her dream failed. In the

ranch she is very alone, and has a husband who doesn't pay any attention to her so she tries to
 LeFlore 2

find someone to talk to in the ranch by dressing provocatively. Steinbeck use of Imagery shows

the theme in this quote because describing what Curley's wife looks like such as “ rouged lips,

heavily made up, and red mules.” This leaves people to believe that she is “looloo” or “tart.”

The use of imagery helps reveal how Crooks is treated. When Crooks entered his “ little room

there was a square four-paned window, and on the other, a narrow plank door leading into the

barn.” (33) In this passage the other people discriminate against Crooks by making him live in a

little shack across the bunkhouse where all the other workers live. This shows that he isn’t

allowed to live in the bunkhouse because of his color. This proves that Crooks has been

discriminated against in the story. The style of imagery Steinbeck uses to reflect the theme in this

passage because compared to the other workers bunkhouse Crooks bunkhouse is even worse, and

is in worse condition than the others workers bunkhouse. Using words like “little room, and

narrow plank.” these words show what Crooks “bunkhouse’ looked like.

The author uses diction to reveal discrimination againest Lennie. In the beginning of the

story George tells Lennie that if the boss “​ finds out what a crazy bastard” Lennie is they “won’t

get no job.” (6) ​Steinbeck shows that discrimination leads people to believe the worst people

even though they may be good people because ​George is telling Lennie that his disability is a

burden and because of that it causes them to lose their jobs. He is discriminating against Lennie

for being crazy and a problem in their life instead of accepting Lennie. Lennie also does not

mean harm to any of the stuff that he does. ​Diction helps reflect the theme that discrimination

leads people to believe the worst people even though they may be good people because the word

choice that George used in the quote such as “ crazy” and “Bastard” to Lennie clearly proves that

George is discriminating Lennie. Diction helps

 LeFlore 3

express the characters and how they feel. A swamper stood up from where he was sitting and

said to everybody “Well, you look her over, mister. You see if she ain’t a tart.” (28) Steinbeck

reveals the theme in this passage because ​since Curley's wife is the only woman on the ranch,

she is really lonely and tries to talk to the workers. The workers purposely avoid Curley's wife

because they are scared that they will lose their job if they are caught interacting with her,

because of this Curley's wife is discriminated on the ranch and is very lonely on the ranch. ​The

use of diction is used in this quote to reveal the theme in this passage because the choice of

words that the author used in the story reveals that the men on the ranch think that Curley's wife

is promiscuous. The author's use of diction helps reveal Candy. As George was talking about

his future farm Candy mentioned that ​“ I’ll be on our own place, an’ I’ll be let to work on our

own place.”(75) This quote shows the theme because Candy is suggesting to George to let him

work at their future ranch because he knows that it would be easier for him to work there instead

of this ranch because he can do the jobs he knows he can’t do, and work at his own pace without

the threat of being fired. Candy is being judged for his age, and knows that soon he’ll be fired

because he's no use to the ranch. ​Diction reflects the theme in this passage because the word

choice that Candy used in the story makes it clear that Candy is suggesting for him to work at

their future farm. The Diction helps send a clear message to the reader of what the person is

trying to give out.

Steinbeck’s use of Imagery and diction shows that discrimination leads people to believe

the worst in other people, even though they may be good people through the examples in the

story. In the real world discrimination is based on peoples looks and abilities. Many of it is racial

discriminatoin, genger, and age in “Of Mice and Men” by Steinbeck.

LeFlore 4